United is a hard bop composition by Wayne Shorter, who is credited as its sole writer. Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers recorded it on 12 February 1961, but the recording was not released until 1979, when Blue Note issued it as the first track of the album Pisces. On the original LP the piece runs 6:49 and is credited to Shorter, and a 2013 CD reissue adds an alternate take. Blakey also recorded the tune for his 1970 album Roots and Herbs. Later versions by other artists include those by Woody Shaw (1981), Medeski, Martin & Wood (1992), Ray Barretto (2002) and the Ralph Lalama Quartet (2008). The known recordings are instrumental.
